The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-06-15
THE RECENT MIDDLE.
General StIman's Letter Concerning kr.
Clsvsland's St Louis Trip.
BE Scouts the Idea That Any Soldier Would
Irsult the President
Members Of tie G. A. 3. Would Instantly
Resent AfffOnts From Any Source.
TIE General VIII be on Hand aud Advises
That the Next Meeting be Held
IN the South.

ST. LOUIS, June 11.-General John A.
Noble and Colonel D. 2. Dyer, two promi-
nent members of the Grand Army of the
Republic of this city, received long letter
to-day from General Sherman, in which be
discusses at some length the recent middle
regarding the invitation TO President Cleve-
land to visit st. Louis during the Grand
Army encampment next fall. The
material points of the tier are as follows:
"The rumor of your tro ubles In st. Louis
rescued me by telegraph, and has lost
nothing by distance. ] believe we here in
New York understand tue facts, that the
Grand Army OF the RepDbnC holds its
next annual encsmpment at st. Louis on
the last Wednts day of September. 1887 ;
that the great fair OF the Valley of
the Mississippi begins Monday, 0cto-
St. Louis have invited many prominent
men to be the guests of their city on
the accidental coincidence of these two
important events, among these the Presi-
dent of our common country, Grover
Cleveland, his family and suite. The
Grand Army of the Republic IS composed
exclusively of men who served in the army
and navy of the Union, TO which Mr..
Cleveland does not belong, and therefore,
he can not participate in any of its pro-
ceediDgs; but the moment the Grand
Army emerges from its hall of deliberation
IL becomes, like the Free Masons, Odd Fell
lows and other societies of good men associ-
ated for a noble purpose, part of the gen.
eral community. subject to the laws and
usages of that community.
"Mr. Cleveland, the President OF the
United States, by fair election of all our
people commander.in-chiefo of the army and
navy of the United STATES, is free to come
and go wherever the jurisdiction of this
our DatIon-government extends. He may
visit any fort or ship, where the national
fisg will be lowered to manifest respect to
him and his officsrs, and should a foreign
ship fail to do him full honor, none will
be so quick to resent an insult as
the members of the Grand Army
of the Republic who periled life and limb
to make that flag respected at home and
abroad. The idea OF his being insulted,
much less endangered, should he be on the
stand alongside of our commander-in-
chief, General Fairchild, when the Grand
Army Is passing in review, seems to be
monstrous. j think / know the Iowa boys
too well to believe such a thing possible.
Brave men are never ungenerous,
and the Iowa soldiers were brave men.
/ know it of knowledge acquired in battle,
and pledge my life that no Iowa soldier
will do so unmanly an act, and should Mr..
Cleveland accept the invitation, which l
hope he will, to attend the parade of the
Grand Army OF the Republic at st. Louis
on the 10Th of September next, / will
stand by his side or march past in the
ranks OF Ransom Post, as may be ordered
by General Fairchild.
81 notice with pain that the Presidents
sction in certain pension bills enters into
this unhappy controversy. There were
many private bills, and one of q general
nature which the President vetoed. The
Constitution of the United States compels
the President to approve or veto each
separate bill as it reaches him from Con-
gress. If approved it becomes law, ii
vetoed it requires an increased majority Of
Congress TO pass it, but the President
can only account for his judgment by his
own conception of duty to his God. We,
as soldiers, must submit to it, because
it is the law. l do not believe this
Government eau ever be too charita-
bic to the old soldiers wounded, or
in distress by age and infrmity, and
had 1 been near Mr.. Cleveland l would
not have ventured to advise him on the
general bill, but, as to private cases, ]
would have said: Charity enters largely
into all pensions, and when any special
bills have passed the ordeal OF the COM
mittees of the Senate and House, approve
them; but, on the general bill, exercise
your full constitutional power
Honest men differ widely on this ques-
rsdes. We all want to do what is right,
but differ as to the means. All we know
is that after twenty odd years after the
civil war, the Government OF the United
States under Republican and Demo
cratic rule pay out to our
old soldiers the Union army
about $50 600, 900 per year, and few thou
sand to the Mexican war veterans, regard
less Of locality, and not one cent to the
rebels of the South whom we fought in the
civil war We old soldiers of the civil war
have not yet Just cause to make an issue on
the question of pensions to our lnirm and
wounded soldiers.
II advise you to go right along, prepare
the way for the Grand Army of the Re-
public at its session of Wednesday, Ssptem-
Der %. 1887 at st. Louis and receive them
as they deserve-as honsst guests; also, the
President Of The United States with such
other hoDored guests as may grace the oc-
casion. III any of our comrades feel hurt
at the association they can remain at home,
but the sun wilt rise each morning the
seasons will follow each other in quick sue.
cession, and the world, with its myriads Of
people, viii go right along all the same.
"Let US do right as near as we know how,
and trust the future to the boys who look
on us old veterans as Urodigfes, or as old
fogiss, lingering superhuant on the stage
! of life. / believe / know you
both perfectly well and that
| you would sacrifice life rather than
honor; therefore, whatever you do, will
stand by you-same as to Rainwater, Ken
nard, Cobb and Jerome Hill. who took the
wrong shoot in 1861, but who are now with
us in b. art and act for the Union, one and
indissolGble, now and forever"
Instead CT the Grand Army of the Re
public meeting only in the loyal States Of
| 1918, | am in favor of their meeting
hereafter at Nashville, Chattanooga, At
lanta and Richmond, following the ex
ample of our armies in the war Tor thu
! Union. am always your friend,
"W. 7. SHERMAN"